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Kentucky Derby | Secretariat jockey upset with Churchill Downs

Following a posting by unhappy horse owner Rick Porter on Foxhill Farm’s website this week, Hall of Fame jockey Ron Turcotte voiced his displeasure toward Churchill Downs’ treatment of another set of horsemen.

Following a posting by unhappy horse owner Rick Porter on Fox Hill Farm’s website this week, two-time Kentucky Derby-winning jockey Ron Turcotte added his displeasure toward Churchill Downs’ treatment of another set of horsemen: riders who shaped the track’s legacy.

Turcotte, a Hall of Famer who rode 1972 winner Riva Ridge and 1973 Triple Crown winner Secretariat, has used a wheelchair since a racing accident in 1978. He wrote that his “most recent experiences at the track have tarnished my fond memories of Churchill Downs through the actions, or should I say inaction, of track management who has not provided me with either accommodation or parking access during Oaks and Derby days.”

Turcotte said he enjoys returning to Churchill Downs to share stories and meet with fans, but that doing so on the track’s biggest days makes it difficult to navigate crowds of more than 100,000. In the statement, he did not say whether he had Derby or Oaks tickets.

Churchill spokesman John Asher said that as recently as 2012 Turcotte had a parking pass from Churchill Downs but he did not know other details and was trying to contact the jockey.

“If there’s one Derby or one issue with which Ron is unhappy, then that’s a problem,” Asher said. He called Turcotte “a valued and treasured member of the Kentucky Derby family” and “there was clearly a communication breakdown on more than one occasion … We’ll get with Ron. We’ll get a line of communication open and there will never be an issue again.”

Turcotte recounted multiple instances in which he believes he was treated unfairly by Churchill, first when he was the subject of a documentary filmed at Churchill Downs in 2012. The track, he said, did not offer him on-site parking for his participation. Instead, a film crew paid $500 for him to get on the grounds.

In 2013, he was due for an appearance at the Kentucky Derby Museum. Once again, he wrote, he received no handicapped parking and was informed he’d have access only to the museum, not the track itself, “preventing me from even being able to watch the race I had won twice.”

“In each of these instances, Churchill Downs management knew well in advance that I would be attending the Derby, yet never made an effort to offer one shred of hospitality or professional courtesy,” Turcotte wrote.

“After reading your post,” Turcotte wrote in response, “it has become painfully obvious that this lack of basic consideration also applies to many others who helped shape Churchill Downs’ history or promote its welfare. More than anything it shows me exactly how the track values its precious bottom line above the sport and those who champion it.”

Asher said he believes Porter also was upset that he had not been presenting the trophy for the Oaks Day Eight Belles Stakes, which is named after Porter’s ill-fated, late 2nd place 2008 Kentucky Derby finisher. Asher said that was an oversight and Porter will be back to present this year’s trophy.